Grandma's House -Ga (That's the oldest grandson's lovely name for me) is interested in crafts, sewing, quilting, cross stitch, knitting

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Tammy 4 All Seasons

All I have been able to accomplish for this hop is due to the incredible patience of Mary and Madame Samm. The creativity of Brooke and Corri sure challenged me.

Now to what I did accomplish - TA DA!

This is my Tammy bag - almost finished. It's on my ironing board along with the start of my Spring pinny. That's a tiny red gingham that will be my gathered edge on the pinny. I say my Tammy bag is almost finished because I know I have the coveted Presencia thread finca pearle #8 and I cannot locate it. So I attached the handle to the front the best I could and still maintaining some decorum with broken threads. I decided when the project was no longer fun, it was time to stop as the witching hour for posting was nearing and quit for the night and share what I have.

I used to cross stitch and loved it. I hadn't pick up the hobby in several years and knew something was wrong when I could not only see to thread the needle but also I had no clue where the holes in the cloth were. So in November 2013 I had surgery on both my eyes to help with double vision. This is my first project since that surgery. I first started on the adorable Spring dress on 28 count over 2 and got lost. So, I opted for colors that were easier to see on a light background (and NOT black background) and started over. I now have prisms in both lens and still have to move my head to focus properly. I got a magnifier that you rest on your chest to help see. Mine worked great as long as I don't move. I don't know about you - but my chest moves when I breath and certainly when I move my head to focus.

The red fabric is the outside of my bag and the light aquaish blue is my lining. I back stitched around all my items - just a habit. I had never used beads with stitches in cross stitch. I had done a pattern of all beads. I attached my beads with X to make me feel more secure. I even put a bead in the middle f my sunglasses. I adore the beads on the bathing cap - I remember those well. Oh, the days of swimming classes in college with waist length hair!

I will admit that I used no hoop for the first time when Ii cross stitched this.

Now I want to make a "Jaxon bag" for my three year old to carry his cars and trucks to big brother's games. I think a boy print would make a cute bag for him for his treasures and the pockets would help keep him busy. Maybe he'll get a Jaxon bag for his birthday in March.

Madame Samm showed some of the tools she uses in some of her projects. She showed what I think is a beautiful seam ripper. Yep, that's my brother who makes them. I loaned mine to one of my guild members for a potential opportunity and I can hardly wait for it to come home. I have had fun, fun, fun preparing for today.

It is almost finished! You did really well. I never got the hang of cross stitching and it took me waaaaay into my adult life to start enjoying other stitcheries! I am in awe of your cross stitches! With all the visual stuff going on, you are even more awesome! Well done.

With your vision issue I know this was a challenge. My sister was left with a kind of double vision after a stroke and also has prisms in her glasses. I bet Jaxon would love one of these! blessings, marlene

There is that little thing called breathing that we all need to do! LOL! I finally found a pair of magnifiers that clip on my glasses, that work very very well for me. I can't even imagine stitching on 28 count! Yikes. Interesting my first few projects I never used a hoop of any kind either, but I do find that I love Q snaps!

Wonderful job. Love the beads. It will be lovely when finished. I know what you mean about not fun. I WAS having fun but near my deadline I was getting stressed. I finally said "Stop" slow down and don't make it a job. I figured everyone here would understand and they have :) I am still slowly stitching away and now having fun.

I'm amazed that you would consider csing when you have seeing difficulties. Bravo! It looks wonderful and the beads are spectacular - a perfect addition. You didn't add your brother's website (Does he have one?) for us to check out the seam rippers. Clue me in as I'd love to see what he makes - and I use one almost as often as my scissors!! lol

Love the additional design the x'ing of the beads adds to the the cap. It is so pretty. Your bag looks amazing. It is hard to tell you were having trouble at all! Way to go in accomplishing what you did. Looks just beautiful. ~Cori

Cross stitching tires my eyes pretty fast so I have to work a while and lay it aside and come back later... trouble is, I don't know when to lay it down... I am hooked again. Kudos to you for finishing the cross stitch and basically the Tammy is complete. You will find your thread and then it will be ready for a day in town to show it off. :)

Tammy for all Seasons

About Me

I'm retired from the IT world. I have three wonderful grandsons. One lives about two hours away and unfortunately the other two live two states away! I make an effort to see all of them as often as possible. They are growing up too fast! I have a thirteen year old granddaughter and an 18 month old granddaughter. I enjoy quilting and belong to a quilt guild with over 300 members. I also belong to a small stitch group of 5 members. I am currently taking a intense 34 week Discipleship Bible Study class. Life is busy.